All I Need Is You (35 page)

“Thanks, Mom. You don’t have to cook all this food every day.”

She beamed at him. “I like cooking for my boys. I haven’t had enough chances to feed you lately. I’m not sure where I went wrong that only Nicholas absorbed my cooking lessons. The rest of you are a fire hazard in the kitchen. Although now that you have Kay, I know you won’t starve. She’ll take good care of you.”

“We’ll take good care of each other.” He glanced behind him instinctively to where Kay was sitting on the couch with Ridley.
 

Ever since the day of the shootout, she’d been right by his side as he’d taken every step in his new life. She’d come with him to the lawyer’s office. She’d ridden up to headquarters for meetings so he could turn over control of the day-to-day operations to his vice president, George Callahan.

“She thinks that I should talk to you. About that day in the barn. When I was seventeen,” he clarified.
 

Julia’s face paled slightly. He covered her hand with his and squeezed. “I’m sorry, Mom. I hate to bring up something so painful, but I need to talk about it. How it affected me.”

“All right.” She squeezed his hand back gently.

“I was really angry,” he admitted. It had taken a lot of introspection for him to come to terms with that.
 

“At me?” Julia’s voice wavered slightly.

“Yeah. A little. I shouldn’t have been, but I was confused. I couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t press charges. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted him to pay. I think that’s why I joined the Circle. It was stupid, but I felt like I was helping
someone
. Even if I couldn’t help you.”

Julia sighed. “I am so sorry for… a lot of things. But Eli, things are so much more complicated than you know. It’s not what you think. It’s just… not what you think.”

Eli saw it in her eyes then and suddenly didn’t want to take the conversation any further. “You don’t owe me any explanations, Mom. I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you ever need me. A really smart woman is helping me see that it’s time to move on. I’m excited about the future for the first time in a long time.”

“She’s good for you.” Julia stood and kissed him on top of his head before picking up the plate of leftover biscuits.
 

He walked over to Kaylee and sat next to her on the couch. He pulled her into his arms and she purred and snuggled up next to him.
 

“You two are just so cute.” Ridley sniffled. “I’m so glad you found each other and now you’re so happy,” she said and looked at Eli. “And I’m so happy.”
 

Jackson appeared. “What did you do to my wife? I finally got her to stop crying.”

Ridley waved her hand at him. “I’m not crying. I’m just misty-eyed, that’s all. Leave a girl and her hormones in peace.”

Eli breathed in the scent of Kaylee’s hair and held her close. They’d spent a lot of time together over the past few weeks and now he couldn’t imagine how he’d lived so long without her. Now that he wasn’t working sixteen-hour days, he could see just how barren his life had been before she and Hope had barged into his house and heart and brought them both to light.

It was long overdue for him to delegate so he could live a little. He’d always be grateful for and proud of his work because it had given him a productive outlet for his anger and frustration. Through it he’d been able to realize his purpose of helping people. But it was no longer the main focus of his life.
 

His family was.
 

KAYLEE STOOD ON the doorstep of her parents’ house and rubbed her arms. It had been a few weeks since they’d gotten back in town and her mother hadn’t called her once. She was definitely still angry.

But Julia had stepped into the void and helped Kaylee out in more ways than one. Not only was she supportive of her relationship with Eli despite their age difference, but she’d given her encouragement and reassurance about how she was raising her daughter. Things Kay hadn’t realized she’d needed so badly until she had them.
 

Then there was Eli.
 

She looked over at him and everything inside her went gooey. The last few weeks had been challenging for him. She’d done everything she could to support him as he’d started untangling the legal mess from his time with the Circle of Seven and from his defiance in walking off the active scene of a crime at his house a few weeks ago.
 

Danny had found him a great lawyer, which she thought was amazing considering that his only introduction to Eli had been less than complimentary. Even Hope’s father had called to offer support. Not that she needed it, but it was nice to hear anyway. He wasn’t going to be a part of their lives and Kay was at peace with that.
 

Finally at peace.

She hadn’t told Eli about the call from Tim. He’d just go crazy and she’d have to pretend to be upset on principle. Truthfully, she kind of liked it when he got a little jealous. Eli treated her like the focus of his entire world, which was great because he was the center of hers, too. She loved every inch of her exasperating, overprotective, dominant alpha male.
 

The only thing that still hurt her heart was that Sasha wasn’t speaking to her. Her friend had been hurt and embarrassed when she’d realized Eli had suspected her of being the stalker. Kay had tried to explain that she hadn’t believed it, but Sasha had left in tears. She left messages on her friend’s cell phone every day, but she probably wasn’t even listening to them. Kay sighed.

“Don’t be nervous. It’ll be fine,” Eli said as he rang the bell. “I’m sure she’s not still angry. She’s your mother.”

“Oh, I wasn’t even thinking about that. I’m sure my mother is still angry. I don’t expect anything less. You have no idea how stubborn she can be.”

“I wondered where you got it from,” he muttered.
 

She was saved from responding when the door opened. Her father stepped back so they could come in. “Hey, pumpkin. I was wondering when you’d finally come by. You know we’ve missed you something awful.”

“Sorry, Daddy. I know I should have called, but with the way I left things with Mom, well, I wasn’t sure my call would be welcome.”

He enfolded her in a hug. “You’re my daughter. You are always welcome.”

She snuggled into the embrace, soaking up the flow of love and acceptance. “I missed you.”

 
Her father pulled back and his eyes landed on Eli. “Mr. Alexander. Thank you for keeping my baby girl safe. I hope you won’t be taking her away from us again anytime soon.”

“Well, about that…”
 

“So, you’ve finally decided to come visit. We’ve been worried sick.”

They all turned around. Henrietta stood in the doorway, her arms crossed. Kay’s heart sank. She knew her mother’s body language, and she wasn’t giving off a forgiving vibe.

“I’m sorry, Mom. Things have been really hectic.”

Kay handed Hope to her father. He carried her into the kitchen and Eli followed with a sympathetic smile.

Kay sucked in a breath to steady herself. “Actually, I needed some time away. From you.”

Her mother took a step forward, her eyes wide. “Kaylee! What an awful thing to say.”

“I’m sorry, Mom, but it’s true. For a long time, I’ve tried to be smarter, thinner, just
better
so I could finally make you proud. After all this time, I’ve realized that it’s never going to happen. I didn’t go to college, I got pregnant and embarrassed you in front of all your church friends, and I’m singing pop music. But I’m proud of my life. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve learned from them, too.”

Henrietta crossed to the couch and sat down. “I’m a horrible mother.”

“I didn’t say that. I just think you want something from me that will never happen. You wanted a perfect daughter. That’s not me. That will never be me. And I’m okay with that.”

She was shocked when her mother pulled her into a hug.

“You are perfect. Exactly as you are. I’m the one who is a failure for not letting you know that.”

“Mom? But you always seemed so disappointed that I wasn’t singing in the choir anymore.”

“I wasn’t thrilled that you went into popular music because I know how rough that industry is. I recorded a few albums, so I know what it’s like. They demand your all and then if you don’t live up to their expectations, they’ll grind you up and spit you out. I was just worried for you, Kay. I didn’t want them to break your spirit the way they broke mine.”

Stunned, Kaylee allowed her mom to pull her closer. For years, she’d thought her mom’s criticisms were because she was disappointed in her. Not because she was worried
for her.

“And I was upset when you got pregnant because I wanted to string that no-good man up by his gonads for how he treated you. I was disappointed because I want the best for you, Kay, not a lifetime of struggle. Of course, you proved me wrong as usual because you didn’t struggle, you thrived. I am truly awed by you.”

Kay sat back, stunned. “I never knew. I guess we could both do better at communicating what we really feel. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I hate to think of you being worried. I was safe the whole time. Eli would never let anything happen to me.”

Henrietta wiped the tears from her eyes and stood. “Yes, well, I’d like to hear what happened from him. I think he has some explaining to do.” She marched into the kitchen where Eli was standing next to her father.
 

“Now, I’d like to hear directly from you, young man, about what happened. You show up on our doorstep one day and then the next thing we know, our daughter is gone for a month. I’d like an explanation.”

“Mom! I already told you everything.” Kay groaned. She walked over next to Eli, as if she could shield him from her mother’s wrath. It seemed their mother-daughter truce didn’t extend to being nice to her man.
 

“I am so sorry about this,” she whispered to Eli. She supposed she couldn’t expect her mother to break all her old habits.
All things in good time
, she thought. But at least they’d made a start to patching up their relationship.
 

He pulled her closer and grinned. “It’s fine.”

“Now, pumpkin, your mother has a point. We’re your parents. We can’t help but worry. I didn’t protect you from that last fella, but I mean to do so now. I think a man who’s got nothing to hide shouldn’t mind answering a few questions.”

“I agree,” Eli added.

Kay turned to glare at him. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours. Always.” Then he turned to her parents. “I have no problem answering any questions you have. I love your daughter and I’m not going anywhere. I want to marry her, if she’ll have me. I hope we’ll have your blessing.”

Henrietta covered her mouth with her hands. “Marry her? Well, this is unexpected.”

“Yes, ma’am. I realize you don’t know me that well, but I plan to rectify that real soon. There’s nothing more important than family.”

Her father looked at Kaylee and winked. “A straight shooter. I like this one.”

“Well, come on in, Mr. Alexander. Come in and sit down.” Henrietta beamed up at him as she took his arm and he followed her into the living room.

“Call me Eli, please.”

“Do you work here in town, Eli?”

“I own a security company headquartered in Northern Virginia, but I’m moving home. I’ll open a secondary location in New Haven.”

Henrietta looked back at Kay. “
He’s a business owner
, Kaylee.” She didn’t let go of Eli’s arm as she led him into the living room. Probably figured Kay would never bring home such a good catch again.
 

Kay shook her head as Eli effortlessly charmed her parents.
 

When the doorbell rang, Henrietta looked over her shoulder. “Get the door, Kaylee. It’s for you.”

“How do you know it’s for me?”

But as usual, her mother wasn’t paying any attention, instead smiling up at Eli and hanging on his every word. Kay snickered. She wondered what her mother would think if she found out that
good catch
was thoroughly corrupting her daughter every night and introducing her to things that were illegal in some states.
 

She peered through the peephole and then pulled back in surprise. Her hand fumbled with the knob as she struggled to turn it. The door swung open and Sasha looked up.
 

After a few moments, they each reached out, ending up in an awkward hug.
 

“I am so glad to see you.”

“I’m so sorry I didn’t call you back.”

They both spoke at once and then ended up grinning at each other. Kay pulled her friend back into another hug. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to see you again. I’m so sorry about everything that happened.”

“Me, too. I was just hurt. And embarrassed. But I know it wasn’t your fault.”

“I knew you’d never hurt me.” Kay pulled her friend inside and then shut the door.

“Not me, just my crappy taste in men.” Sasha’s face twisted and tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t know what he was doing, I swear.”

 
“I know.” Kay hooked an arm around her friend’s neck. “My life isn’t right without you in it. Don’t go away again, okay?”